Monday morning alone, South Carolina Highway Patrol reported five motor vehicle accidents involving deer. This week marks the unofficial start of rutting season, and deer are on the make -- that means more deer crossing more roads and more deer vs. auto accidents.

The last two weeks of October and the first two of November historically show a spike in deer-auto crashes. According to the state's Department of Natural Resources, it's an impressive spike: 45 percent of the year's dear-car accidents occur this time of year. That translates into almost 1,000 of the 2,214 accidents reported by the Department of Public Safety for 2010.

Drivers should be especially alert to deer on the road in the morning and in the evening. As we discussed last year, deer are most active when humans are on the road.

The question, then, is what to do if you see a deer on the road. Experts say it depends on how far away the deer is.

When the deer is a fair distance from your car, the DNR recommends honking the horn, flashing the headlights and, of course, slowing down. At closer distances, it's best just to slow down. Using a horn or flicking headlights may startle the animal and send it across the road -- more often than not, followed by another deer or two.

This time of year especially, deer are less likely to be traveling alone. If you see one cross the road, wait a minute before proceeding. There is a good chance another deer is right behind it.

In our next post, we'll discuss what to do if you are involved in a deer vs. car accident.

Source: Post & Courier, "Rush hour bad time for deer love," Schuyler Kropf and Glenn Smith, Oct. 18, 2011